exert Copy link Outline I. To put forth, bring into operation1. exerceo, exhibeo, 22. ūtor, ūsus, 3 (with abl.)II. To strain; esp. with refl. pron., or something belonging to the subject as object1. contendo, di, tum, 32. lăbōro, 1 (intrans., to take pains, e. oneself)3. nītor, ēnītor, sus and xus, 3 (to use effort) • exert: I. To put forth, bring into operation: 1. exerceo, exhibeo, 2: v. to exercise (II.). 2. ūtor, ūsus, 3 (with abl.): to e. activity, alacritate u., Caes. B. G. 4, 24, fin. (al. niti): v. to use, employ. (Plin. jun. has jus exserere, Ep. 8, 7, 2., but no earlier writer.) II. To strain; esp. with refl. pron., or something belonging to the subject as object: 1. contendo, di, tum, 3: to e. all one's powers, omnes nervos c., Cic. Fat. 10, 20: v. to strain. 2. lăbōro, 1 (intrans., to take pains, e. oneself): to e. oneself to prevent something being done, l. ne quid fiat, Cic. Verr. 3., 57, fin.: also with in or de, and abl. of that about which: v. to labour. 3. nītor, ēnītor, sus and xus, 3 (to use effort): to e. all one's energy to prevent, summa ope niti, ne ..., Sall. Cat. 1, init.: Cic.: v. to strive. Phr.: to e. oneself beyond one's strength, se supra vires extendere, Liv. 34, 4: to e. the voice too much, voci nimis imperare, Plin. Ep. 5, 19, 6: to e. all one's influence on behalf of some one, pro aliquo summis opibus pugnare, Caes. (v. to struggle).